Here are the stories making the business headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Aberdeen office market bounces back in Q3
Property experts have revealed an uptick in office market in and around Aberdeen during the third quarter of 2023.
Take-up over the three months totalled 141,789sq ft, reflecting a 167% jump on the previous quarter’s 53,091sq ft figure and 196% increase on the same period in 2022.
It brings total take-up for the year to date, after a subdued first six months, to 258,431sq ft.
The Q3 2023 figure was achieved across 29 deals, with the largest transaction being Odfjell Technology’s 19,464sq ft letting at Prime View in the Prime Four business park at Kingswells.
Read more in today's Press and Journal.
Campaign for North East Rail throws weight behind Cove and Newtonhill station plans
Rail campaigners are backing a bid to reopen Cove and Newtonhill railway stations, which they hope will halve journey times for people travelling to Aberdeen city centre.
The Campaign for North East Rail has already won major government funds in their push to reinstate Peterhead and Fraserburgh rail links.
Now, activists are endorsing a petition focused on the two closed stations to the south of the city.
The petition, which has gained almost 1,500 signatures since opening in June, will be presented to the Scottish Parliament in the coming months.
UK car production soars - but industry warns of looming Brexit rules 'threat'
UK carmakers have recorded their best September since 2020 - but warned growth is "under threat" from new Brexit export rules due to come into force within months.
More than 88,200 vehicles rolled off factory lines in September, an increase of over 25,100 - almost 40% - compared to the same time last year, figures published on Thursday reveal.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) described the period as a "triple success", as it was also the sector's strongest month of growth in 2023 so far and the best results for a September in three years.
The industry body said the rise was driven by a 32% growth in exports - with almost six in 10 vehicles going to the EU. Output of electric vehicles (EV) also soared by 41.5%.
Pizza Express works up appetite to swallow Wagamama owner
Pizza Express is considering a surprise move to gatecrash a takeover of The Restaurant Group (TRG), the London-listed company which owns Wagamama.
Sky News has learnt that Pizza Express is at the preliminary stages of evaluating whether to make a rival offer for TRG, which this month agreed to be bought by Apollo Global Management for just over £500m.
City sources cautioned on Wednesday that there was no guarantee Pizza Express would proceed with a formal offer to TRG's board, chaired by Ken Hanna.
One of the sources said there had only been initial contact between the two sides to date, and that the public disclosure of its interest could prompt it to walk away.
AI could help terrorists develop bioweapons, report warns
Rishi Sunak is expected to say that the government must be “honest” about the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) as an official report warns that it could pose an “existential threat”.
The prime minister believes that while there are significant opportunities from AI, it also “brings new dangers and fears”.
A government paper on AI, written with the support of 50 experts, says that by 2025 it could be used to commit fraud and mount cyberattacks.
It suggests that by then it will have the potential to “enhance terrorist capabilities” in developing weapons, planning attacks and producing propaganda.
The range of more severe risks that could emerge by 2030 includes “mass disinformation”, an “unemployment crisis” as AI takes low-skilled jobs, and the use of the technology to help terrorists develop biological weapons.